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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SEOUL 001610 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; October 9, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, All TVs 
Military Seeks to Revive Incentives for Men who Finish Military 
Service, a Move Likely to Invite Backlash 
from Women's Associations 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
ROKG to Restrict State-Controlled Companies' 
Dollar Borrowing 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Military to Toughen Punishment for Draft Dodgers 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
Blue House's Unconvincing Explanation of 
Donation Allegations 
Only Deepens Suspicions 
 
Segye Ilbo 
ROKG Seeks to Ban Civil Servant Labor Unions 
from Joining Nation's Two Umbrella Labor Groups 
 
Seoul Shinmun 
Financial Supervisory Service to Toughen Rules 
on Non-Bank Mortgages 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
According to an ROKG source, Seoul is considering sending troops or 
police officers to Afghanistan to guard Korean citizens who are 
working there providing medical and other non-military services. 
Given the opposition parties' objection to sending troops to the 
war-torn country, this move is likely to arouse controversy. 
(Hankook, Segye, Seoul, MBC) 
 
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said during yesterday's regular press 
briefing that the recent seizure of four North Korean containers in 
Busan is "part of measures to implement U.N Security Council 
Resolution 1874." (Dong-a) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-Afghanistan 
------------ 
Citing an ROKG source, most media reported that Seoul is considering 
sending troops or police officers to Afghanistan to guard Korean 
citizens who are working in Afghanistan providing medical and other 
non-military services.  Noting the opposition parties' objection to 
sending troops to the war-torn country, the media surmised that this 
ROKG move is likely to arouse controversy. 
 
Assistant Secretary of State Campbell's Asia Visit 
--------------------------------------------- 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo, right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo and moderate 
Hankook Ilbo noted Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell's regional tour 
next week that includes visits to Japan and China, but not the ROK. 
The newspapers described this U.S. move as "unusual" and 
"incomprehensible," because this is a crucial time for closer 
ROK-U.S. coordination ahead of President Obama's Nov. 18-19 visit to 
Seoul and U.S.-North Korea talks.  The newspapers also speculated 
that this development may be related to recent controversy over 
Assistant Secretary Campbell's remarks regarding a "grand bargain" 
proposed by President Lee Myung-bak to resolve the North Korean 
nuclear issue.  Assistant Secretary Campbell said last month that he 
was "not aware of Lee's 'grand bargain' at all," creating a stir in 
the ROK because his statement gave the impression that there had 
been no prior discussion about the proposal between the two 
 
SEOUL 00001610  002 OF 003 
 
 
countries. 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized: "It seems unnatural for 
Assistant Secretary Campbell to skip the ROK while visiting China 
and Japan, especially if his trip is intended to discuss agenda 
items for President Obama's upcoming Asia tour as reported.  Seoul 
and Washington are saying that there are no bilateral differences 
about how to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.  However, after 
watching recent developments, we wonder if it is appropriate to take 
their words at face value." 
 
 
Opinions/Editorials 
IS THERE REALLY NO RIFT BETWEEN SEOUL AND WASHINGTON? (Chosun Ilbo, 
October 9, 2009, page 39) 
 
Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs 
Kurt Campbell is expected to visit Japan and China next week for 
advance talks about the agenda for U.S. President Barack Obama's 
first visit to Asia from Nov. 12 to 19.  Obama visits Japan on Nov. 
12 and 13, attends the APEC Summit in Singapore, and then visits 
China and the ROK, but Campbell will not be stopping in Seoul. 
 
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan on Thursday said the U.S. is holding 
"a sufficient amount of talks" with Korea about the summit "through 
various diplomatic channels." Yu added Campbell "may be busy." 
 
In a speech in New York last month, President Lee Myung-bak 
suggested offering North Korea a "grand bargain" to get it to scrap 
its nuclear program, a one-shot deal involving security guarantees 
and international assistance.  Campbell later said he was not aware 
of the president's comments, and the U.S. media quoted American 
government officials as saying the suggestion "goes too far."  In a 
press conference after returning to Seoul, Lee appeared to publicly 
reproach Campbell, saying, "So what if 'Mr. So-and-So' says he is 
not aware of it." 
 
The U.S. point man for East Asian and Pacific affairs does not 
always visit all three countries --Korea, Japan and China -- when he 
flies to the region.  Campbell, who was appointed in June, went only 
to the ROK and Japan in July and only to Japan between Sept. 17 and 
19 to meet with the officials of the new administration.  It seems 
unnatural for Assistant Secretary Campbell to skip the ROK while 
visiting China and Japan, especially if his trip is intended to 
discuss agenda items for President Obama's upcoming Asia tour as 
reported. 
 
Seoul and Washington are saying that there is no bilateral 
difference over how to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. 
However, after watching recent developments, we wonder if it is 
appropriate to take their words at face value. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
FEATURES 
 
REASON WHY U.S. UNDER SECRETARY VISITS "DAUM" 
(Korea Economic Daily, October 9, 2009) 
 
By Reporter Park Chul-eung 
 
Daum Communications said on October 8 that U.S. Under Secretary 
Judith McHale visited the company in Hannam-dong, Seoul.  The visit 
was aimed at learning about Internet services and new media trends 
in Korea. 
 
Under Secretary McHale was briefed on Korea's Internet trends and 
Daum's business strategy and service operating system for about an 
hour. 
 
Daum said that Under Secretary McHale showed particular interest in 
the Internet community of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and examples of 
 
SEOUL 00001610  003 OF 003 
 
 
mutual cooperation between the Embassy and Daum. 
 
Currently available on Daum are U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Kathleen 
Stephens' blog, "Shim Eun-kyong's Story in Korea," and the official 
online community of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, which was opened in 
¶2004. 
 
In addition, Daum has hosted various events, including an 
"Internet-Mobile On-Air Discussion between USFK Commander and 
Netizen Panelists," "Meeting between the U.S. Embassy and Netizens 
about U.S. Visas," and an "Internet Opinion Leaders' Roundtable with 
U.S. Secretary Rice." 
 
Meanwhile, Under Secretary McHale, who was the CEO of the global 
media company Discovery Communications from 1987 to 2006, is 
reported to be highly interested in the "contents industry" 
(companies owning and providing media products).  At present, she is 
serving as the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy 
and Public Affairs. 
 
(Editor's Note: The same story was also carried by The Electronic 
Times and most major Internet media outlets, including Money Today, 
Digital Times, Digital Daily, and Newsis.) 
 
 
DISPLEASED WITH CONTROVERSY OVER "GRAND BARGAIN" PROPOSAL? 
(Chosun Ilbo, October 9, 2009, page 5) 
 
By Reporter Lim Min-hyuk 
 
U.S. Assistant Secretary Campbell Skips the ROK while visiting China 
and Japan 
 
The U.S. Department of State said on October 8 that Assistant 
Secretary of State Kurt Campbell will attend a meeting of U.S. 
diplomatic mission chiefs in the East Asia and Pacific region, which 
will be held in Honolulu at the end of this week, and visit Japan 
and China next week.  Attention is being drawn to why the planned 
regional trip by the Assistant Secretary this time excludes the 
ROK. 
 
It is almost unprecedented for a U.S. Assistant Secretary of State 
for East Asian and Pacific Affairs to skip the ROK while visiting 
China and Japan since the days of his predecessor Christopher Hill. 
In addition, this U.S. move is deemed incomprehensible, given that 
this is a crucial time for closer ROK-U.S. coordination ahead of 
President Obama's Nov. 18-19 visit to Seoul and U.S.-North Korea 
talks. 
 
Therefore, some observers believe that this is related to a 
controversy over Campbell's remarks on President Lee's envisioned 
"Grand Bargain" proposal.  Assistant Secretary Campbell said last 
month, "I was not aware of that" setting off concerns that the ROK 
and the U.S. lacked prior coordination.  Later, President Lee 
indirectly expressed regret saying that it doesn't matter whether a 
U.S. official says he was not aware (of the proposal.) 
 
The ROK's Foreign Ministry cautions against playing up this 
situation, saying that there is no reason to attach meaning (to 
skipping Korea on this trip).  An ROKG official said that only Japan 
and China were included in his itinerary apparently because Japan 
has a new government and Campbell has not visited China since his 
appointment.  The official also noted that the Assistant Secretary 
skipped China while visiting the ROK and Japan in July. 
 
However, an ROK diplomatic source said that, especially at this time 
when the North Korean nuclear issue becomes sensitive, Campbell 
could demonstrate tight coordination (between the ROK and the U.S.) 
just by visiting an ally even if he does not have anything urgent to 
discuss, adding that this situation doesn't look good. 
 
 
TOKOLA